Window of opportunity sees Open legend Tom Watson sign print for St Andrews charity

From golf strokes to brush strokes, a signed print of golf legend Tom Watson is to be auctioned off by a St Andrews charity.

The five-time Open champion signed the picture following an appeal by the town’s branch of Cancer Research, which had placed it in its window during the week of the Open Championship.

However, it was a more personal touch that eventually secured the signature of the American, who paid an emotional farewell to the game’s greatest championship last Friday when it was played over the Old Course.

Shop manager Liz Swankie said: “During the Open there’s a window competition in St Andrews amongst the shops and I asked Murray Duncan, owner of the Happy Hacker Golf Shop, if he could lend us some items to make it look more ‘golfy’.

“When I saw the picture I knew I wanted it for the window and put a note on it asking that if Tom Watson saw it, would he come in and sign it.

“One day Murray said that Tom Watson’s sister was sitting in the courtyard outside so we went over and asked if she could get him to sign it.”

The print will be auctioned online and bids will be taken in the shop on South Street.